ExpressVPN FAQ: Common Questions Answered
Answers to the most common questions about ExpressVPN — based on our hands-on testing and research.
Yes, based on our testing and audit review. ExpressVPN uses AES-256-GCM encryption, the Lightway protocol has been independently audited by Cure53, and the no-logs policy was verified by PwC. Our DNS and IPv6 leak tests found no leaks with default settings. No security solution is perfect, but ExpressVPN's technical posture is among the strongest in the industry.
ExpressVPN's privacy policy states it does not log browsing activity, connection timestamps, IP addresses, or DNS queries. This policy was audited by PwC (most recently in the past three years). The company's TrustedServer infrastructure (RAM-only servers) provides an additional technical layer: since servers don't write to disk, data cannot persist between reboots.
ExpressVPN allows up to 8 simultaneous device connections on a single subscription. This covers most households. If you need more, consider Surfshark (unlimited) or NordVPN (10 devices).
ExpressVPN has historically worked in China, where it offers obfuscated servers designed to bypass the Great Firewall. However, availability changes with Chinese government enforcement activity. We recommend contacting ExpressVPN support before traveling to confirm current status.
Lightway is ExpressVPN's proprietary VPN protocol, built on the wolfSSL cryptographic library. It's designed to connect faster, use less battery, and reconnect more quickly when networks change compared to OpenVPN. The source code has been open-sourced on GitHub and audited by Cure53. In our tests, it consistently outperformed OpenVPN by 20–30% on nearby servers.
Yes, in our testing ExpressVPN reliably unblocked Netflix US, Netflix UK, and several other regional Netflix libraries. It also worked with BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. Streaming availability can change as platforms update their detection methods.
ExpressVPN does not offer a traditional free trial, but all plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're unsatisfied for any reason, you can request a full refund within 30 days — ExpressVPN's support team processes these without requiring a detailed reason.
ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies, a British-Israeli company. Kape also owns CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and Zenmate. This consolidated ownership is worth knowing — all these services share corporate infrastructure while operating independently. Kape Technologies acquired ExpressVPN for approximately $936 million.
Network Lock is ExpressVPN's name for its kill switch feature. When enabled, it blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly — preventing your real IP address from being exposed during connection interruptions. In our tests on Windows, Network Lock worked correctly during simulated drops with zero traffic leakage.
Yes, but availability varies by platform. Split tunneling is available on Windows (with OpenVPN/IKEv2, not Lightway), Android (all protocols including Lightway), and macOS (via the older app version). It is not available on iOS. Split tunneling lets you route specific apps outside the VPN tunnel while keeping others protected.